Final Four Thoughts?

[Quillback]

Yep, Contucky makes a joke out of the phrase "Student Athlete". I wonder if coach Crookapari will be able to reload again for next year?

[ness]

Man, that was a fun game to watch. There were a lot of tie-ups and hard fowls. I kept thinking somebody's gonna lose it and throw an elbow or take a swing, but it didn't happen. That shows good discipline on both sides. I'm glad the refs let them play. Hawks really turned the momentum second half, and had it withing range. There's no quit in those boys.

Anybody else hear Nance say 'the game is over' at around 8:00?

[Justin Spencer]

Disappointing first half by one of the worst shooting tournament teams I can ever remember going to a title game. They did show heart toward the end, but too many mistakes. I was hoping Kentucky would be rattled down the stretch but just to athletic. Defense ruled in the final four, and Kentucky's was incredible in the lane, hopefully Mizzou was taking notes and will decide that there are two sides of the ball. While Robinson has great numbers I don't see him ever making a splash in the NBA, I like the guy, but think he is overrated.

KU should be much better next year if this year's recruits have gotten smarter and can pass a test, it was kind of like they red-shirted a bunch of stars this year. With Withey, Johnson, and the defense of Relaford (who may not even get playing time next year) they have a chance at a #1 seed which should lead to an upset in the second round like most of their best teams do.

Go Royals, break that 26 year losing streak!

[KCRIVERRAT]

KU showed a lot of heart during their tourney run and I commend them for that. Self probably did his best coaching job of his career this year.

Has Calipari bent the rules or cheated as some say through the years? Of course he has. But you guys know he's not alone in doing so across the college basketball landscape, or in the world of sports from the high school level up in actuality. He makes no apologies for the "one and done" players that commit to his programs. An athlete's required to attend school for at the very least one year before going pro. A player like Anthony Davis would more than likely have went straight to the NBA from high school if the rules were as they were for a time (Kobe, LeBron, Kevin Garnett, etc.). So why the heck not have an elite athlete play for you if only for a year. That year might just be a special one... as just evidenced.

It's sad, but the good old days of the four year student-athlete, meaning "premier athlete", are long gone. And that's something that no coach or player had anything to do with. A "one and done" kid like Davis will be fine in the NBA. He's that good.

A kid who's a sophomore or junior that leaves school believing he's NBA ready when he's not is a bigger problem. Think the Morris twins, Xavier Henry, and plenty of Mizzou players through the years. Plenty of coaches make the mistake of telling a kid he's ready. Most end up not meeting what's expected of them.

[Justin Spencer]

A kid who's a sophomore or junior that leaves school believing he's NBA ready when he's not is a bigger problem. Think the Morris twins, Xavier Henry, and plenty of Mizzou players through the years. Plenty of coaches make the mistake of telling a kid he's ready. Most end up not meeting what's expected of them.

Not a problem for the kid, they make more money just signing with a team than most of us will in a lifetime. If they invest wisely they can be set for life before even setting foot on an NBA court (not that most do). I can't blame kids for leaving early, if the NBA is ready to pay this may be their only chance. For all of us college is just a stepping stone to get a job, if after my freshman year a company wanted to pay me $500,000 for a years work you better believe I would have dropped out! You can always go back, but you don't always have a chance to make that kind of money.

[KCRIVERRAT]

I understand Justin, but how many of those kids "wisely" invest at that age even when financially guided. Another year or two playing college ball honeing an extra skill set or two while gaining confidence and letting his body mature would probably result in a bigger first contract with an even bigger one to follow. Dollars waved like a carrot on a stick are a huge temptation. But except for situations such as maybe the kid's parents suffering from financial hardship, etc., takeing the money isn't necessarily the right move.

Now, gotta get back out and run my two year old grandson through some more lay-up drills!

[Justin Spencer]

Tough to ask a kid who's probably never had a pot to piss in, and isn't allowed to get a job or take money from anyone but family (who doesn't have any), to turn down millions and stay in school, where chances are you have no desire to be in class. I agree in many cases it would be better to stay in school, but a freak injury, or a bad season could end up costing millions.

Not sure what the one year rule really accomplishes, other than making the NCAA and certain schools lots of money. Seems to me like the rule takes advantage of kids that would just as soon be already in the NBA making money. Maybe that one year of school teaches them something, but in a "free" capitilistic society it seems like a strange rule. One thing the rule does is make the tournament more competitive as a whole. Those teams, like Mizzou this year, that might not get the best players can develop a great team of older kids that compete with the Universities that get the one and done players. I think this is why you see some mid-majors having success in the tournament. Didn't happen as much this year as in the last few with mid-majors going very far in the tournament, but great coaches at smaller schools have a chance with the turnover at the powerhouses.

[Quillback]

I'm beginning to think you guys are in favor of the one and done college ahtlete..

To me, the NCAA tourney is starting to resemble Olympic basketball, in the Olympics the USA is always favored, but as we have seen can be beat if the players are lackadaisical. Coaching as far as X's and O's isn't that important, what is important is being able to motivate the players. In the NCAA, Calipari can bring in the one and done, almost NBA ready players, as long as he can do that, Kentucky is going to be favored in the tourney, Caliparis X and O skills aren't important when you've got a roster of ahtletes like he put together this year. Heck if I want to watch the NBA, I'lll watch the NBA. I expect something different from the NCAA's premier tournament. This year's final was a yawner, yeah Kansas made a valiant effort, but I never felt they had a realistic chance of winning.

[ness]

I really was just trying to be funny about vacating the win. Yeah, Calipari's left a lot of wreckage behind but he's got no rap sheet as far as I know.

I can't fault the one-and-dones for running to the NBA. If you stay you end up with what...a University of Kentucky education, that's what! Why wait a couple more years for the big-azz house, jewelry and cars? Plus, the hottest-of-the-hot babes just won't have you until that contract is signed. You have to settle for just hot.

Fast forward 15 years: your 'investments' have gone south (who knew you could lose money in the restaurant business?), your two (still very hot) ex-wives cashed out at the top, and there's a bunch of spoiled kids that can't function in society without daddy's cash. Friends don't seem to like you as much as before. You've had to downsize the house (it was the bank's idea), and your Bentley (the only one that didn't get repoed) is burning oil. Your knees hurt all the time.

I guess I can see why they'd do it.

[Gavin]

I can't fault the one-and-dones for running to the NBA. If you stay you end up with what...a University of Kentucky education, that's what! Why wait a couple more years for the big-azz house, jewelry and cars? Plus, the hottest-of-the-hot babes just won't have you until that contract is signed. You have to settle for just hot.

Fast forward 15 years: your 'investments' have gone south (who knew you could lose money in the restaurant business?), your two (still very hot) ex-wives cashed out at the top, and there's a bunch of spoiled kids that can't function in society without daddy's cash. Friends don't seem to like you as much as before. You've had to downsize the house (it was the bank's idea), and your Bentley (the only one that didn't get repoed) is burning oil. Your knees hurt all the time.

True that...College is just an overpriced stepping stone to the job market for most people and athletic careers are short. Jump ship and get paid as soon as you can.